Acid Reflux In Babies: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
Does your little one spit up after she has been fed? Well, it's quite normal as the digestive system of a baby isn’t completely developed. But in case this occurs frequently, then there are chances of her dealing with a condition called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
Reflux in babies is a normal condition and it doesn’t cause any major problems. It usually disappears as your little one ages. But as a parent, it's best to be armed with the signs and symptoms of acid reflux in babies. So, keep on reading to find out how to recognize the signs and symptoms of reflux and GERD in babies, and what you can do about it, as well as when it's important to consult with your baby's doctor.
What Is Acid Reflux and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in Babies?
Reflux happens when the content of your baby's stomach backs up into her esophagus (the tube that transports foods and liquids from the throat to the stomach). This is because the sphincter (the muscle that locks off the esophagus from the stomach) is either too relaxed or is too weak to hold the liquid or food in your little one's tummy and can't stop it from travelling back up toward her throat.
Almost all babies have reflux from time to time since the sphincter is still maturing. Spitting or vomiting is quite common in about half of all infants under 6 months old and happens in about 5 percent of babies once they reach 12 months of age.
Your baby will most likely grow out of reflux once she's between about 1 and 2 years old. If the reflux doesn't go away within this time or gets worse, it could indicate there's a problem that may need medical attention.
When reflux becomes chronic, that is, it starts happening all the time, it's referred to as GERD. This condition is something your baby's healthcare provider can diagnose.
What Are the Symptoms of Reflux and GERD?
If you're seeing any of the following symptoms in your baby before or after she's eaten, she may have reflux (or GERD if the symptoms are happening very frequently):
Frequent vomiting or regurgitating
Periods of coughing, choking, or wheezing, especially if the reflux gets into the windpipe
Wet burps or hiccups
Irritability or crying after eating
Difficulty swallowing
Refusing to eat or eating only small amounts
Arched back
Being underweight or not gaining weight
Continuing to spit up after the first birthday.
These symptoms may get worse if, after eating, your baby is placed lying down or seated in a car seat. Click to read about Car Safety Tips for Babies & Toddlers.
How to Prevent Reflux
Here are seven ideas you can try to prevent reflux in your baby, and that may also help prevent it from turning into GERD:
Avoid overfeeding your baby
Feed your baby smaller amounts more frequently
Burp your baby more frequently, both during and after each meal
After a feeding, limit play and activities such as like tummy time where your baby lies down for longer periods
After feeding, place your baby in an upright position for at least 30 minutes
With your healthcare provider's approval, thicken your baby's breast milk or formula with up to 1 tablespoon of oatmeal
If you're giving formula, you might consider changing formulas.
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
If your baby is still experiencing reflux even after you've implemented the prevention strategies listed above, have her checked by her healthcare provider. In some cases, your provider may refer you to a pediatric gastroenterologist. If your baby is diagnosed with GERD, your provider may prescribe medicine or may suggest some dietary changes, such as switching formulas, to see if your baby's condition is due to an allergy.
Besides thickening your breast milk or formula as mentioned above, your baby's healthcare provider may suggest switching to a protein hydrolysate formula (a type of formula that is hypoallergenic) to see if symptoms improve in one to two weeks. If it turns out your baby has an allergy to the proteins found in a milk - or soy-based formula, switching formulas may be the best resolution in preventing and keeping the reflux from returning.
Testing for Reflux and GERD
If your baby is struggling to gain weight properly or is in extreme discomfort because of the reflux, the healthcare provider may prescribe medicine. Or your baby's provider may decide to run tests to rule out other problems. Click to keep a track of your baby’s height and weight development
Tests to diagnose the reflux as GERD may include a barium swallow, which is when your baby or young child would need to swallow a solution, and then get X-rays; or an upper endoscopy, which is when a physician uses a tiny fibre optic camera to look inside your baby's esophagus and/or stomach.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you see any of the following symptoms in your baby before or after they’ve eaten, they may have reflux or GERD:
- Vomiting or regurgitating
- Periods of coughing, choking, or wheezing, especially if the reflux gets into the windpipe
- Wet burps or hiccups
- Irritability or crying after eating
- Difficulty swallowing
- Refusing to eat or taking in only small amounts
- Arched back
- Underweight or cannot gain weight
- Spitting up that continues after his first birthday.
All-In-All
You need to keep in mind that most of the reflux cases get resolved on their own. But in case the situation escalates into GRED, consulting with your healthcare provider is the best option. Likewise, you need to keep an eye on the signs and symptoms that indicate reflux in babies. It’s the best way in which you can help prevent the reflux from turning into GERD.